Folding crate.



I. C. FISHER.

FOLDING CRATE.

.IAPPLICATION FILED MAY 18. ms.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 a Ill/ ji atb nnu a 1n); ummls Pzrsns co. Puma-Linux wnsmuown. n. c.

I. c. FISHER.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY l8. I918.

Patented Dec; 3,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET'Z.

m: noun; Ilfik: ca. mamunm. wAsuvvmaN. o. c.

IRA C. FISHER, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

To all cokom it may concern: Be it known that 1, IRA C. FISHER, a c1t1- .zen of the United States, residing at Flint,

in the county of Genesee, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved foldable crate, particularly designed for use in shipping, and one of the objects of the invention is to facilitate shipping, and particularly storing of the crate when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved crate, which may be easily and quicklyfolded into compact form, thereby requiring but a small space for storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldablecrate, which is very simple and eflicient in construction and durable in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping crate having superior strength over other crates of this kind, since it has been found that under severe welght tests, the crate will withstand the stralns 1n various directions and remain comparatively in perfect condition under the strains.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate having the folding sides and ends provided with improved locking means, thereby bracing the sides and ends when erect and in proper shape for shipping.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved shipping crate constructed in accordance with the invention and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 14 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.'

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the parts of the crate, showing the crate folded.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed May 18, 1918. Serial No. 235,281.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

Referring more especially to the drawings 1 designates the bottom of the crate, which comprises the longitudinally extending slats 2, and the transverse slats 3, andd and 5 designate the side pieces. The side piece 4: comprises the end standards 6, to which the longitudinally extending strips or slats 7 are secured as at 8. The lower slat 7 of the side piece 4 is hingedly connected to one of the strips 2 by the hinges 9, shown clearly in Fig. 1. The hinges 9 are located on the exterior, the securing means of one of the leaves of each of the hinges 9 first passes through one of the transverse strips 3, and then through the adjacent longitudinally extending strip 2, as will be clearly understood from the drawings.

The corner standards 6 have their vertical faces 10 opposite the faces to which the strips or slats 7 are secured beveled as shown I clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The crate is provided with end pieces 11 and 12, which comprise the end standards 13 and 14 and the strips or slats 15. The strips or slats 15 are secured at 16 to the standards 13 and 1 1. The standards 13 are beveled as shown at 17, which bevels engage the bevels 10,of:the standards 6, as shown clearly in Figs. 1,2 and 3.. Suitable hinges-18 and 19 hingedly connect the standards 6 and 13, so that when the end pieces 11 and 12 and the side piece 4 are erect as shown clearly in Fig. '1. the bevels 10 and 17 will engage. It is to be notedthat these hinges 18 and 19 have the hinged portions of their leaves so arranged that the end piece 12 may first fold against the side piece 1, and subsequently the end piece 11 may be folded against the end piece 12, as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

The side piece 5 of the crate comprises the end standards 20, to which the strips or slats 21 are connected by screws or the like 22, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The end standards 14 are provided with adjoining ribs and rabbets 23 and 2A, which respectively engage adjoining rabbets and ribs 25 and 26 of the adjacent standards 20 of the side piece 5 as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It is to be observed that the end standard 20 of the side piece 5 on their faces adjacent the end pieces 11 and 12 are provided with notches 27 which receive certain ends of every other strip or slat 15 of the end pieces 11 and 12 as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It is to be further observed '(not shown).

that when the end pieces 11 and 12 are erect tom slat 21 of the side piece 5 is hingedly connected by the hinges 31 to the longitudinally extending strip 2 of the bottom 1. These hinges 31 as will be seen in Figs. 4; and 5 are located on the interior of the crate. l/Vhen the crate is erect and ready .for shipping goods, as shown in Fig. 1, it may be provided with any suitable top (not shown) and this top may be slattedand fastened to the sides and ends in any suitable manner However, when the crate is not in use it may be folded as clearly shown in Fig. 6. For instance the end piece 12 is first folded, and then subsequently the end piece 11, the end piece 12 then being adjacenttheside piece 4. After folding these parts, the side piece 5 is folded upon i the bottom, the inner face of the side 5 be:

ing adjacent the inner or upper face of the bottom. The under face of thebottom, with the side piece 5 acent its inner or upper face is then folded against the outer face of the side piece 4,'as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as newand useful is 1. In a folding crate, bottom, side and end pieces, said end pieces having slats, the side pieces being hingedly united to opposite side edges of the bottom, the end pieces being hingedly united to the end of one of the side pieces, saidend pieces and one of the side pieces having interengaging standards,

the standards of said side piece, having means to be engaged by the slats of the end pieces. i

2. In combination, bottom and side pieces hingedly united, whereby the inner face of,

one. side may fold against the inner face of the bottom, and the under face of the bottom against the outer face of the-other side piece, end pieces having slats and being hingedly connected to the ends of one of the side pieces, said end pieces and the first foldable side piece having adjacent standards, the

adjacent faces of said standards having interengaging means, the standards carried by. the first folding side piece having notches to receive the ends of every other slat of theend pieces, and latches connecting said adjacent standards.

3. In combination, bottom and side pieces hingedly united, whereby the inner face of one side may fold against the inner face of the bottom, and the under. face of the bottom against the outer face of the other side piece, end pieces having slats andbeing hingedly connectedto the endsof one of the side pieces, said end pieces and 'thefirst foldabl'e side piece having adjacent standards, the adjacent faces of said standards having interengaging ribs and rabbets, the standards carried by the first folding side piece havingon their outer faces notches for the reception of the ends of every other slat of the end pieces, and hooks carried by the end pieces, and headed pins carried by the side piece to be engaged by the hooks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

IRA C. FISHER. Witnesses: I

J. A. SKINNER, L. M. DEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 'of Patents,

.' Washington, D. G. 

